Nelson's history of the war. Vol. XI., The struggle for the Dvina, and the great invasion of Serbia

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196 APPENDIX III. |

VIII.—AGREEMENTS IN RESPECT OF PARTICULAR | COMMODITIES. ‘

27. Special agreements have been made in respect of] particular articles the supply of which is mainly derived from the British Empire or over which the British Government are in a position to exercise control. The articles covered by such agreements, the object of which is to secure such control over the supply of these materials as will ensure that they or their products will not reach the enemy, are rubber, copper, wool, hides, oil, tin, plumbago, and certain other metals.

IX.—RATIONING.

28. Though the safeguards already described do much to stop entirely all trade to and from Germany, yet, in spite of all of them, goods may and do reach our enemies, and, on the other hand, considerable inconvenience is caused to genuinely neutral trade. It is to avoid both evils that His Majesty’s Government have for months past advocated what is called rationing, as by far the soundest system both for neutrals and belligerents. It is an arrangement by which the import of any given article into a neutral country is limited to the amount of its true domestic requirements. The best way of carrying this arrangement into effect is probably by agree: ment with some body representing either one particular trade or the whole commerce of the country. Without such an agreement there is always a risk that, in spite of all precau: tions, the whole rationed amount of imports may be securec by traders who are really German agents. These import: might go straight on to Germany, and there would then be great practical difficulty in dealing with the next import: destined, it may be, for genuine neutral traders. If the; were to be stopped, there would be great complaint of in justice to neutrals, and yet unless that be done the systen would break down. Accordingly, agreements of this kinc have been concluded in various countries, and His Majesty”